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Topic: Naiant IPA (Read 24063 times)

Jon, could you explain the IPA and how it can power microphone capsules, and which microphone capsules? Who builds the cables for say the Schoeps caps, or the AKG caps? I know of the Schoeps KCY and Nbob's, but nothing else. Maybe other's might be curious as I am.

That's because I haven't shipped any yet. Later this week the first few will trickle out.

Basically it's the PFA circuit in a slightly larger case with space for an A23 battery and selectable gain. So anything a PFA can do, an IPA can do as well. The caveat being the power supply is limited to what an A23 battery can do (9V reliably), so higher-voltage systems such as Nbox or my AKGs can't be supported with internal battery (they could run on external power or phantom). KCY, MBHO, PIP, 3-wire, anything else that is <9V FET supply can be supported with internal battery.

The PFA polarization circuit can be added, so the polarization voltage can be 40V-60V.

Sounds very interesting. Since you say it's basically the PFA circuit, can we expect it to sound the same as the PFAs?

Pretty much. The audio path is nearly identical, except for the gain setting--PFAs can be configured for gain, but almost nobody has ever ordered them that way (except for the dynamic mic versions). Although most PFA circuits will have +6dB gain which is inherent in generating the electrically balanced output. The IPA isn't designed to do that, it's either unbalanced or impedance-balanced output. It could be electrically balanced, but that would double power consumption which is kinda dear with an A23. I would think most people are going to use it as a stereo unbalanced amp feeding a minijack input recorder.

I'm more of a winemaker, actually I'm a former vineyard owner (never made wine commercially though). But honestly, I'm pretty happy with Guinness (best from an Irish tap) and Yuengling (from the tap at the bowling alley). I usually don't like microbrews, many of them seem to be trying too hard.

I don't really understand how phantom power works with the IPA. I was always under the impression that a balanced cable was necessary for phantom power to work, but the stereo version of IPA seems to have unbalanced outputs only. How would I connect a stereo IPA to a recorder that has dual phantom-powered XLR inputs?

You would use a Y cable (which would be impedance-balanced). But in that case, I'd probably stick with a PFA instead, as it's less expensive once you include the cost of the Y cable. Or you could use two IPAs, which is definitely more expensive.

Is that just a plain cable that routes pin 2 of the IPA to the left channel's pin 2 and pin 3 of the IPA to the right channel's pin 2? Or would a small circuit be required?

I'd be interested in the IPA basically as a backup for my tinybox. But phantom power would be nice for occasionally using the "big rig". However, that only makes sense if there's a relatively cheap way for me to wire this up. Otherwise, a simple 3.5mm to dual line adapter would probably also do the job.

Also, a completely unrelated question about the battery that the IPA uses. Are there rechargeable versions of this?

IPA will support KCY, but not CCM. CCM runs on phantom power, and even though it will use 12V, the current required is way too high for an A23 battery. Your best bet for CCM is to use an XLR input recorder.

IPA could also support CMR.

The Y output cable needs components (a capacitor and resistor) to be balanced, but the IPA is happy if the cable isn't balanced--it doesn't know either way. The question is then what to do with pin 3--probably your preamp would be unhappy with it grounded (it would waste a lot of power), but it might not like if it was floating either. It depends on the circuit they used. So the impedance-balanced cable is the best solution.

I am not aware of rechargeable A23s (it's a button stack battery), but you can buy A23s for less than $1 each in bulk.

I got my pair in the mail a week or so ago. Just got a chance to use them last weekend. Nice easy setup and a low profile. I think the recordings sound pretty nice too. Very similar tone compared to my old Littlebox. To my ear anyway.

I forgot to brink my small flathead to play with the gain adjustment. Looking forward to putting them through their paces in the coming weeks.

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